Baht Bus vs Songthaew ...

[David48]

Is the term 'Baht Bus' a translation of what the Thais call it?

 

Or an alliterative term popularised by some Westerners?

 

I'm used to calling them Songthaews ...

 

 

Asking ... not telling

.

[Seastallion]

I know only of songtheuw....assumed a baht bus was found in BKK other touristy cities other than my own and was something else.

The scourge of the roads. Stop anywhere without indicating, pull out into the traffic any time without indicating, speed in the right hand lane even though he needs to pull over within 50 meters.... Before I had a scooter, I thought they were cool and convenient, but as a fellow motorist, I despise them.

 

ps, the term song theuw means "2 rows" referring to the two rows of seats.

[KhaoNiaw]

I only ever seem to see the term 'baht bus' used in the Pattaya forum?

 

 

[mania]

As I mentioned in the other thread afaik

there are both

 

Sonthaew or Lor Dengs as often called are one thing

 

Baht Bus available in larger towns like Pattaya, Bangkok etc. another

 

Not to say folks dont use the term baht bus for Lor Deng I am sure they do

Not really a big deal eh?

 

[attachment=279218:baht bus.jpg]

 

[attachment=279219:Songthaew.jpg]

[craigt3365]

Maybe we'll have to invite baht bus expert jingthing over, but from what I've seen, a baht bus is a song thaew.  Just here in Pattaya, they call it a baht bus because the fare (mostly) is 10 baht.  Unlike in other cities where the fare is more dependent on your destination.

 

 

[JesseFrank]

I would strongly doubt that Thais call it a Baht Bus, since that are English words, and I'm sure the OP is aware of which language is spoken in Thailand.

[neverdie]

Maybe we'll have to invite baht bus expert jingthing over, but from what I've seen, a baht bus is a song thaew.  Just here in Pattaya, they call it a baht bus because the fare (mostly) is 10 baht.  Unlike in other cities where the fare is more dependent on your destination.
 
 

In the old days, the baht bus was just a baht.

JT, has probably been riding the things since they were satang busses :P

Actually in the real old days, JT probably wound the handle to get the thing started in the morning.

[Tywais]

 

Maybe we'll have to invite baht bus expert jingthing over, but from what I've seen, a baht bus is a song thaew.  Just here in Pattaya, they call it a baht bus because the fare (mostly) is 10 baht.  Unlike in other cities where the fare is more dependent on your destination.
 
 

In the old days, the baht bus was just a baht.
 

 

When I was working at Utapao in '68-'69 they were referred to baht buses as they were one baht.  This was in Sattahip, Rayong, Pattaya area so the term has been around a long time.  Perhaps coined by us GIs? 
 

[neverdie]

 

Maybe we'll have to invite baht bus expert jingthing over, but from what I've seen, a baht bus is a song thaew.  Just here in Pattaya, they call it a baht bus because the fare (mostly) is 10 baht.  Unlike in other cities where the fare is more dependent on your destination.
 
 

In the old days, the baht bus was just a baht.
 

 
When I was working at Utapao in '68-'69 they were referred to baht buses as they were one baht.  This was in Sattahip, Rayong, Pattaya area so the term has been around a long time.  Perhaps coined by us GIs? 
 

Strangely enough I can recall times of my youth when I use to guard my satang coins, as they were what fed me at times........now my FIL and I joke at times, about what things use to cost.....strangely enough though I can't seem to remember what people were earning.

Can you remember how much you were being paid back then?

[Tywais]

 

Strangely enough I can recall times of my youth when I use to guard my satang coins, as they were what fed me at times........now my FIL and I joke at times, about what things use to cost.....strangely enough though I can't seem to remember what people were earning.

Can you remember how much you were being paid back then?

 

 

Being in the military is not a good reflection on salaries then, but less than $150 USD/month.  But free room and board was included even though I had rented a bungalow in Ban Chang and hung my hat off base most of the time.      Don't think the bungalow was more than a few hundred baht/month.  In Bangkok, taking the ferries on the Chao Phya river was either 10 or 25 satang.  Though 25 satang may have been in the mid '80s when I was in Bangkok.

[neverdie]

 Strangely enough I can recall times of my youth when I use to guard my satang coins, as they were what fed me at times........now my FIL and I joke at times, about what things use to cost.....strangely enough though I can't seem to remember what people were earning.

Can you remember how much you were being paid back then?
 

 
Being in the military is not a good reflection on salaries then, but less than $150 USD/month.  But free room and board was included even though I had rented a bungalow in Ban Chang and hung my hat off base most of the time.      Don't think the bungalow was more than a few hundred baht/month.  In Bangkok, taking the ferries on the Chao Phya river was either 10 or 25 satang.  Though 25 satang may have been in the mid '80s when I was in Bangkok.

I can't remember the ferries.....I was ferried around in a car (not across the surface of the river).....I just remember food. Eating joke in the morning, satang, a pile of phatonggo a few satang....counting the little brown coins like they were golden chips. LOL.

I remember being shocked when Australia stopped using 1 & 2 cent pieces, now they're talking about getting rid of the 5's.

Anyway, miles of topic but I think we have clarified why the baht bus was the baht bus.

Eventually they will rename it.......phunbus.....and I hope for JT's sake that he's dead and buried because the shock of it will probably kill him. 55555

[mrtoad]

This thread has no credibility until The King of Baht Buses JT, graces us with his supreme knowledge.  

[David48]

This thread has no credibility until The King of Baht Buses JT, graces us with his supreme knowledge.  

 

Well ... if that is a general shout out to Jingthing ... so be it.

 

Dude ... do drop by ... 

.
 

[neverdie]

This thread has no credibility until The King of Baht Buses JT, graces us with his supreme knowledge.  

 
Well ... if that is a general shout out to Jingthing ... so be it.
 
Dude ... do drop by ... 
.
 

No doubt JT would have some interesting stories to tell about his experiences and the sights of what he saw from the baht bus. He should make a mini series and sell it to the Americans, they have shows about everything.

[Tywais]

 

 

This thread has no credibility until The King of Baht Buses JT, graces us with his supreme knowledge.  

 
Well ... if that is a general shout out to Jingthing ... so be it.
 
Dude ... do drop by ... 
.
 

No doubt JT would have some interesting stories to tell about his experiences and the sights of what he saw from the baht bus. He should make a mini series and sell it to the Americans, they have shows about everything.

 

 

I don't think a mini series would work.  A reality show on the other hand, Baht bus in Thailand ...

[David48]

You guys are on fire this afternoon.

 

TGIF ... 

.

[neverdie]

 

 

This thread has no credibility until The King of Baht Buses JT, graces us with his supreme knowledge.  

 
Well ... if that is a general shout out to Jingthing ... so be it.
 
Dude ... do drop by ... 
.
 

No doubt JT would have some interesting stories to tell about his experiences and the sights of what he saw from the baht bus. He should make a mini series and sell it to the Americans, they have shows about everything.
 

 
I don't think a mini series would work.  A reality show on the other hand, Baht bus in Thailand ...

Tywais,

It would only work if it was filmed using a mirrorless camera, DSLR's are too heavy. ;). :P

[mrtoad]

Maybe the series is already in production, hence the reason the star of the show is unable to comment.

[Jingthing]

Pattaya is an internationally oriented city. 
The largest beach resort city in Asia.

Here, the standard term for the international crowd is indeed BAHT BUS.

Thai locals here will know that term too.

If speaking to a local Thai in Pattaya, you can usually use either term and be well understood.

In the Pattaya forum, it would be pretentious to use the Thai word, as this is an English language forum mostly used by tourists and expats.

Outside of Pattaya, I would not use BAHT BUS.

Lots of terms in the world are geographically specific.

This is one of them.

End of.

Good day.

Not next ... 

[mrtoad]

The King has spoken

[Jingthing]

I should add ... and this gets weird ... a strong trend for RUSSIANS to call baht buses -- TUKS TUKS!

I know, I know, horribly unforgivably WRONG ... but they say that to distinguish a baht bus running as a "bus" from the same cattle truck when used as a private charter.

Thai baht bus workers understand this too and will respond properly to Russian requests about whether the bus is a tuk tuk or not.

Not sure what Russians call a baht bus running as a charter, except not a tuk tuk ... 

Does this mean some years down the line the Russians will have made the term baht buses obsolete for all of us?

I doubt it but stay tuned. 

[Morakot]

To call a spade a spade.

[neverdie]

I should add ... and this gets weird ... a strong trend for RUSSIANS to call baht buses -- TUKS TUKS!
I know, I know, horribly unforgivably WRONG ... but they say that to distinguish a baht bus running as a "bus" from the same cattle truck when used as a private charter.
Thai baht bus workers understand this too and will respond properly to Russian requests about whether the bus is a tuk tuk or not.
Not sure what Russians call a baht bus running as a charter, except not a tuk tuk ... 
Does this mean some years down the line the Russians will have made the term baht buses obsolete for all of us?
I doubt it but stay tuned. 

JT,

Despite all this wonderful information you provided you made no mention of price? Do you remember the 1 baht rides, were you around before that?

I did not know about the Russian stuff, so you have indeed educated me today.

Indeed you are the king of the baht busses (unless of course you prefer the title, queen) :P

[Jingthing]

Not here for one baht.

I was here when foreigners could actually get away with paying 5 baht for some short runs and when Thai people were charged 5. Now 10 baht is the standard fare Thai or not, 20 baht for super long runs (which is left conveniently undefined). 

[ATF]

I should add ... and this gets weird ... a strong trend for RUSSIANS to call baht buses -- TUKS TUKS!

I know, I know, horribly unforgivably WRONG ... but they say that to distinguish a baht bus running as a "bus" from the same cattle truck when used as a private charter.

Thai baht bus workers understand this too and will respond properly to Russian requests about whether the bus is a tuk tuk or not.

Not sure what Russians call a baht bus running as a charter, except not a tuk tuk ... 

Does this mean some years down the line the Russians will have made the term baht buses obsolete for all of us?

I doubt it but stay tuned. 

 

Yes but there aren't many tuk tuks in Pattaya.

 

Russians and Eastern Europeans love a motorcycle with sidecar made out of re-bar or angle iron too.

[mrtoad]

Is there a Baht Bus Frequent Rider Loyalty Card JT?

[Jingthing]

Is there a Baht Bus Frequent Rider Loyalty Card JT?

Would you buy one?

Sent from my Lenovo S820_ROW using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[mrtoad]

Is there a Baht Bus Frequent Rider Loyalty Card JT?

Would you buy one?

Sent from my Lenovo S820_ROW using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

JT If it's endorsed by you maybe, although I'm not in Pattaya that frequently.

[Jingthing]

I kiss you included in price. 10000 extra for no kiss.

Sent from my Lenovo S820_ROW using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[daoyai]

As I mentioned in the other thread afaik

there are both

 

Sonthaew or Lor Dengs as often called are one thing

 

Baht Bus available in larger towns like Pattaya, Bangkok etc. another

 

Not to say folks dont use the term baht bus for Lor Deng I am sure they do

Not really a big deal eh?

 

baht bus.jpg

 

Songthaew.jpg

Have not heard it called a "Lor daeng" red wheel? have often heard red car (rot daeng) or whatever color the town uses....